“The only [thing] that we’re captured by is a desire to develop Moldova”. What Plahotniuc told about the country, the opposition, and protests

In an interview with IPN published on the eve of Independence Day, leader of the ruling Demparty Vladimir Plahotniuc told about the authorities’ plans to secure Moldova’s European course and about the people’s rapid and certain disenchantment with the opposition, as well as about how he understands the term “captured state”, and why there are no risks in the amnesty of capital initiated by the democrats. NM has selected the most interesting [parts] of Plahotniuc’s interview.

About Moldova and its pro-European course

We can say with confidence that Moldova today is a stable and independent state, which supports and respects the world community. This year, the first signals have also appeared that Moldova has embarked on a correct economic course.

Many political parties have used the word “pro-European” [in their names] merely as an electoral slogan, but now the time has come to cease the politicization of this term and to anchor it as the strategy of state development that the government is following.

We have already begun to change the paradigm for the constructing of international relations. In the autumn you are going to see what new interesting approaches the DPM is going to employ in order to show that we remain true to pro-European views while remaining in large measure a pro-Moldavian [sic] party.

About[ ]the opposition

Some of today’s oppositioneers had earlier been in power. Primarily in the justice ministry and the ministry of enlightenment [education]. How did they modernize the institutions of state? They set their relatives up with jobs in them! As a result of their management of the ministry of justice, the Euro[pean] Union has had to now put a freeze on the funding for reforms in Moldova’s justice system.

Do you remember the population’s huge disenchantment with the LDPM? Soon you can expect just as big a disenchantment from [sic] the PAS and the DA. There are already distinct prerequisites and evidence of a connection between these parties and oligarchic groups and Russia’s special services. Just the other day, their names came up in an international scandal connected with the expulsion from the EU of Lyudmila Kozlovska, suspected of actions against European countries in connection with Russia’s special services.

The mass information media are writing that she illegally funded the activity of Moldavian parties through NGOs. After her expulsion from the EU, it became clear who and what is standing behind this, why she was giving the country a bad name and recruiting the politicians she was using in her actions.

About protests

The protest being prepared [26 August] — this isn’t a people’s [protest], but a party one. Let us elucidate what a real protest by people is and what a party’s protest signifies. Let us say tomorrow, for example, the DPM gathers together hundreds of thousands of people and sets off for the office of the PAS and the DA. There, the people express dissatisfaction with the actions of these parties. What is this: a protest initiated by citizens or by a political party?

When we are talking about the protests organized by the PAS and the DA, it would be right not to lie to the population and not to assert that the protests had been initiated by ordinary citizens. People watch television and can see perfectly well that there are several political parties there and several so-called representatives of civil society, who had earlier been politicians. What kind of protest by citizens is this? Who are they representing? They are representing themselves as a party and are conducting a political action. And this is absolutely normal — to gather together the party activists and to conduct a demonstration.

About the amnesty of capital

None of the experts has read this law in its entirety. Under this law, many categories of citizens and likewise politicians who had been in power in the period of the banking scam do not have the right to voluntary declaration of property for 3% of its overall value. Such a law has been successfully practiced in the EU for a long time already.

The law adopted in Moldova has nothing to do with money acquired in a criminal manner. It concerns primarily money obtained from the non-payment of taxes. But, among other things, this law will allow some opposition leaders to legalize their illegal real estate formally registered to parents and front persons.

About the captured state

The term “captured state” — this is nothing more than the political opponents’ latest slogan. The only thing that we’re captured by is a sincere desire to develop Moldova from the economic and social standpoint. Only such a reading of the term is fair in relation to power.